Device for holding outboard motors to boats



A ril 15, 1952 R. H. MABEE 2,592,925

DEVICE FOR HOLDING OUTBOARD MOTORS TO BOATS Filed May 9, 1949 Mm 4 @M flzfimmmgy Patented Apr. 1 1952 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING OUTBOARD MOTORS Y T0 BOATS 2 Ralph H. Mabee, Des Moines, Iowa Application May 9, 1949, Serial No. 92,106 2 Claims. (01. 24s-25) The principal object of this invention is to provide a device for auxiliarly securing outboard motors to boats and thus preventingthe accidental complete detachment of the motor from the boat and its possible lossduring operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a device for auxiliarly securing an outboard motor toa boat that is refined in appearance, economical in manufacture, and durable in use.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an outboard motor auxiliarly securing means that is easily and quickly attached or detached and'one that is so designed as to fit various sizes of outboard motors.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my device detachably secured to aboat and to its outboard motor.

Fig. 2 is a back end view of my device showing its operation.

Fig. 3 is a side view of my device with sections cut away to more fully illustrate its construction.

The usual method of securing outboard motors to boats is by the use of motor screw clamps. Substantially all outboard motors have two of these manually operated screw clamps integrally formed on their fronts. It is most common, however, for these clamps to become loosened in use, with the result that the motor kicks itself free from the boat and then sinks into the water and is lost. To prevent the total loss of their motors, some users tie one end of a rope to the motor and the other end of the rope to the boat.

However, this is a loose method and is also difiicult as there is no good place to tie the rope or like on either the motor or boat. Furthermore, this does not cure in the beginning the motor from becoming loose and is merely to recover the motor if and when it completely detaches itself from the boat and falls into the water. Also, once a motor falls into the water it must be disassembled and cleaned before it can again be used. Obviously, the tieing of the motor to the end of a rope is not the answer. I have overcome such problems by providing an auxiliarly securing device that will hold the outboard motor downwardly on the rear end portion of a bracket 15 is a rod ll.

2 boat even though the screw clamps become loosened.

In the drawings, I have used the numeral It! to designate the stern of a boat, and the numeral II to designate an ordinary outboard motor secured thereon. This motor has the usual two bracket clamps l2 and I3 and their manually operated hand screws l4 and I6, respectively. It is to such equipment that I secure my device and which I will now describe in detail. The numeral l5 designates an inverted U-shaped bracket designed to fit over the rear end of the boat adjacent either the screws M or It. In the drawings I show this inverted bracket adjacent the motor fastening screw 14. Threaded through the lower rear end of the inverted U-shaped This rear lower end of the bracket is inside the boat, as shown in Fig. l. The numeral l8 designates a sharp pointed end on the forward end of the rod 11 and this pointed end extends toward the inside center of the bracket and in practice bites into the wood of the boat, as shown in Fig. 3. The numeral 19 designates a pin slidably mounted transversely through the rear end portion of the rod l1 to facilitate its manual rotation. This pin is prevented from detachment by having one end enlarged, as shown in Fig. 3, and an eye portion 20 formed on its other end. The lower rear end of the inverted bracket may be enlarged and rounded at the point where the rod l'l extends through it. This enlarged rounded portion is designated by the numeral 2l. The numeral 22 designates a hole extending through the lower rear end portion of the inverted bracket, located just above the portion 2|, and extending transverse of the longitudinal axis of the rod ll. The numeral 23 designates a holding rod link member having one end in the form of a ring 24, extending through the hole and embracing the portion 2|, as shown in Fig. 2. By this arrangement the member 23 may be swung around, as shown by arrows in Fig. 2, to engage either of the motor screws l4 and I6, depending on which side of the motor fastening means the bracket I5 is placed. In the drawings I show the bracket at the left of the screw l4. While the member 23 is so flexibly secured to the bracket I5, it nevertheless is permanently so fixed. The numeral 25 designates a hook portion formed on the other and free end of the member 23..

To secure my device to a boat and motor it is merely necessary to place the inverted U- shaped bracket 15 over the back rim of the boat with the hook 25 extending over and around the screw 14 (or screw l6) and then move the bracket downwardly as far as it will go, after which the rod I1 is rotated to the right to force its pointed end into the boat. The movement of the bracket to the left will also tighten the hook 25 downwardly onto the screw M. Obviously, with the pointed end of the rod penetrated into the boat, the bracket will be rigidly held thereon, which in turn will successfully hold the motor downwardly and onto the boat even if the motor is somewhat loosely secured to the boat by the screws I4 and 16. With the motor so held, it will never be permitted to kick itself ofi the rear end of the boat. My device eliminates this problem before it starts.

From the above it will be appreciated that my simple device may be attached to a boat and motor in virtually a few seconds. To remove the device so that the motor may be detached, it is merely necessary to manually rotate the threaded rod I! to the left in order to withdraw its pointed end from contact with the boat, after which the device may be lifted from the motor and boat. The handle [9 not only facilitates the manual rotation of the rod H, but may be used as an antitheft device. Due to its eye 20, an ordinary padlock may be inserted through its eye and around the member 23 thereby preventing the rotation of the rod 1 I. With the rod i'l so locked the device can not be removed nor the motor stolen.

If desired, two of my devices may be used on the two screws M and I6, respectively, but under normal conditions, one device will suffice. The device is so simple and uncomplicated that it can easily be carried in the pocket or tackle box.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my device for holding outboard motors to boats without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by myclaims, any

modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, an inverted U-shaped bracket member having one of its end portions enlarged, a rod member threaded through said enlarged portion of said bracket member and having itsiinner end portion tapered and pointed; said bracket member having a hole just above its enlarged portion, and a rod member having a ring on one end extending through said hole and rotatably embracing said enlarged portion and a hook portion on its other end.

2. In a device of the class described, an inverted U-shaped bracket member having one of its end portions enlarged, a rod member threaded through said enlarged portion of said bracket member and having its inner end portion tapered and pointed; said bracket member having a hole just above its enlarged portion, a rod member having a ring on one end extending through said hole and rotatably embracing said enlarged portion and a hook portion on its other end, a nondetachable pin extending through the outer end of said first mentioned rod, and an eye on one end of said pin.

RALPH H. MABEE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 712,081 Miller Oct. 28, 1902 1,543,531 Streisel June 23, 1925 2,279,006 McWalters Apr. 7, 1942 2,379,256 Schleisner June 26, 1945 2,537,651 Carpenter Jan. 9, 1951 

